Construction is nearing completion on 135 East 79th Street, which is the best new ‘traditional’ building since 15 Central Park West. Instead of mimicking its pre-war neighbors, it one-ups them; the facade “is comprised of custom-pigmented hand-laid Indiana limestone and brick,” per the building’s website. Attention to detail and craftsmanship is obvious from the first glance.
Designed by William Sofield of Studio Sofield, the tower is contextual to its surroundings, but the interiors are far superior than pre-war comparisons—unlike most neighborhood buildings, the insides of 135 East 79th were designed with central air-conditioning and fiber optics in mind.
Though it has no impact on the city’s skyline, 135 East 79th is still a fantastic project for the Upper East Side. The building’s street-wall is in line with adjacent structures, which—when combined with the high-quality finishes—ensures beautiful contextuality.
